Dear Explorer,
Today we'll be looking at the next parable that Luke records. It is the 2nd in a series of 3. We looked at the first parable yesterday and noted that it was repeated twice – once in Matthew and once in Luke.
The most common interpretation is that all three of these parables are talking about empty people becoming followers of Jesus.
God cares about the empty people around you – He loves them and seeks them. But He also cares about those who have become followers and then for some reason or another, find that they have taken a wrong turn and moved further away from Jesus instead of closer to Him.
I believe that all 3 parables teach about these weak followers or “little ones” who need to be encouraged and cared for.
As we study this passage, you can choose which interpretation sounds right to you. And we'll add that to our list of questions when we get to Heaven.
Read Luke 15:8-10
How is a lost coin different from a wandering sheep?
In the first parable, I believe that Jesus was saying that sometimes immature followers, like a lost sheep, wander off the track by losing their focus on Him. In this parable, I believe Jesus is saying that some of these little ones are pushed or dropped through the actions of those who were meant to care for them.
Whose job is it, to help the “little ones” grow and become faithful followers of Jesus?
Churches, pastors, teachers, mentors, and other followers. I believe every follower of Jesus is responsible for the “little ones” around him/her. There is no way that we can be totally aware of how fragile the people are around us – but our job is to stay tuned to the Holy Spirit so that our speech and attitude and behavior does not cause a little one to stumble.
Next time, we'll look at another way that immature followers can get off track.
In His service, dale
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